July 7th – Tour of the Vatican Museum, Michelangelo’s Sistine
Chapel (Michelangelo was reluctant
to take on the work – but the Pope was adamant – it took Michelangelo
four years to complete the ceiling (1508-1512).
In two places Michelangelo
did self-portraits—both of them depicting himself in torture. He gave his own
face to Saint Bartholomew’s body martyred by being skinned alive, and to the
severed head of Holofernes, who was seduced and beheaded by Judith. He also painted the face of Biago de Cesena as Minos with donkey
ears and a snake wrapped around him and biting him in a precarious spot – Biago
was constantly criticizing Michelangelo for the nude paintings) and St. Peter’s
Basilica (Michelangelo’s Pieta carved from 1498-1499). Lunch outside Vatican City walls at Tre Pupazzi
and Vecchio Borgo Restaurant. Took
subway to Church of San Giovanni in Lateran (built by Constantine, this was
Rome’s most important church through medieval times) and Scala Santo- the Holy
Steps said to have been walked up by Jesus on his way to see Pontius Pilot. The Church of Saint Bernard is a circular
church which was not far from our hotel.
Final dinner at Target Restaurant.